India committed to take on demon of terrorism: Hansraj Gangaram Ahir

"India reserves the right to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty and has acted in self-defence in the past, whenever and wherever necessary."

PTI|

Updated: Nov 10, 2016, 10.36 PM IST

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"India reserves the right to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty and has acted in self-defence in the past, whenever and wherever necessary."

COLOMBO: India is committed to take on the demon of terrorism head on, Union Minister Hansraj Gangaram Ahir has said and expressed concern over illicit funds being generated from the sale of drugs to finance terror activities.

Addressing a meeting of Interior Ministers of the Indian Ocean Region to counter drug trafficking here recently, Ahir said the problem of narco-terrorism is assuming gigantic proportions.

Illicit funds being generated from the sale of drugs are being utilised for funding terrorist activities and illegal arms trade, he said.

Citing the recent terror attack at an Army base in Uri, the Minister said terrorists are having safe havens in a neighbouring country.

"India reserves the right to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty and has acted in self-defence in the past, whenever and wherever necessary," he said.

Underlining that India is committed to take on the demon of terrorism head on and take this fight to the finish, Ahir said this would require concerted efforts by all the stakeholders as no country on its own efforts in isolation can meet the desired objectives.

The Minister of State for Home said the increased presence of naval forces to counter the threat of terrorism in the Indian Ocean Region has resulted in significant seizures of heroin consignments over the last two years.

Ahir said the government of India has entered into bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding with more than 30 countries for checking drug trafficking and the country has also taken multilateral initiatives to tackle transnational organised crime.

He said India feels proud to be a part of the newly formed Indian Ocean Forum on Maritime Crime (IOFMC).

The Colombo declaration adopted during the high-level meeting states that narcotic drug trafficking in the Indian Ocean poses a threat to peace and security in the region and its possible link to organized crime and funding of terrorism.

It stresses upon the need for coastal states to cooperate more closely on enforcing maritime law, sharing information, and providing mutual legal assistance, including the expansion and development of communication through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC's) Indian Ocean Prosecutors Network.

The declaration, which was issued a couple of days ago, called on the littoral states of the Indian Ocean to meet on an annual basis within the framework of the Southern Route Partnership (SRP) of IOFMC to assess and report on the drug trafficking threat in the Indian Ocean and develop a coordinated approach to counter such threats.

The delegates also resolved to work towards making the Indian Ocean a 'Drug Free Zone'.